Robert Denham

Robert Denham writes music that borrows from an eclectic array of sources including jazz, medieval chant, and everything in between. He has won numerous awards and was recently recognized as the third place winner of the 2024 American Prize (Concerto for Bass Trombone and Wind Ensemble; Band/Wind Ensemble Division); he won first place in the same competition in 2018 (Gregory Blues; Band/Wind Ensemble) and also in 2019 (Goldgräber; Chamber Instrumental Division).

Denham regularly works with large ensembles including Pacific Symphony, the Kansas State, California State Bakersfield, Texas A&M Commerce, University of Redlands, and West Texas A&M Wind Ensembles, and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. In terms of chamber music and soloists, Modern Brass, the West Coast Woodwind Quintet, the Vientos Trio, the Orion Saxophone Quartet, the Los Angeles Flute Quartet, the Galan Trio, flute specialist Gary Woodward, trumpeter David Washburn, and violinist Timothy Lees have all performed or recorded his works.

Recordings include “It’s Alive” (bass trombonist Ilan Morgenstern, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra), “New Music for Flute and Piano” (flutist Brian Bensing), and “Sutter Creek: 21 Songs for Baritone and Piano (Tyler Thompson and Emily Helvey). One of his recent projects, Bachs of Suites: 60 Solos and Duets for Low Brass, is endorsed by members of the New York Philharmonic, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, and Pacific Symphony.

Dr. Denham holds degrees in composition from UCLA and the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. He is an avid conductor, and is a highly sought-after clinician and adjudicator for high school and middle school-level bands and orchestras. Based on his work with the 51���� Symphony Orchestra, in 2020 he received an Honorable Mention from the American Prize for Conducting (college/university level).